Adjusting mechanism and process for powder compacting press

ABSTRACT

A press having both upper and lower punch operations with controlled action stroke for both upper and lower punches slidable in opposed directions with relationship to a multiple cavity die plate. The upper ram and punches are operated in the downward stroke by a toggle and rocker arm mechanism which incorporates a readily adjustable eccentric means for controlling the length of upper ram stroke. The mechanism further includes a combination of first and second class levers which are cam driven in a cyclical press operation.

United States Patent [191 DeSantis et a1.

1111 3,826,599 1451 July 30, 1974 ADJUSTING MECHANISM AND PROCESS FOR POWDER COMPACTING PRESS [75] Inventors: Raymond P. DeSantis, Royal Oak,

George D. DeTroyer, Grosse lle, both of Mich.

[73] Assignee: Wolverine-Pentronix, Inc., Lincoln Park, Mich.

22 Filed: June 1, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 258,720

[52] US. Cl 425/78, 264/90, 425/352 [51] Int. Cl... 1330b 11/02, 1330b 11/14, B30b 11/22 [58] Field of Search 425/78, 195, 168, 352

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Van De Maden et al.. Vinson Hermes.....

3,561,054 2/1971 Smith 425/168 X 3,561,056 2/1971 Smith et al... 425/168 X 3,574,892 4/1971 Smith 425/78 3,635,617 1/1972 Hara et al. 425/78 3,687,586 8/1972 Hara et all 425/78 3,741,697 6/1973 Smith et a1 425/78 Primary Examiner-J. Howard Flint, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-l-lauke, Gifford, Patalidis & Dumont 9 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJULSOIBH SHEEI 3 [IF 5 ADJUSTING MECHANISM AND PROCESS FOR POWDER COMPACTING PRESS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION Reference is made to US. Pat. application Ser. No. 166,507filed on July 27, 1971 on behalf of Joseph E. Smith, Georges D. DeTroyer and Raymond P. DeSantis for Powder Compacting Apparatus, now US. Pat. No. 3,775,032, issued Nov. 27, 1973. In that application there is shown a press capable of providing compressionof the powdered material parts between upper and lower punches to provide a double punch compacting operation. Thatapplication is of common ownership with the present application. The present application relates to an improved mechanical actuating mechanism for similar compacting presses of the double punch type.

BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION The invention in the present application relates to a new and improved automatically operable powder compacting pressfor producingcompacted parts. The press is of the general type used for manufacturing memory cores such as are used in computers and in re- I lated apparatus. The press, however, is capable of manufacturing beads of ferrite or glass or any other powdered and compressible substance. The press will be seen to be particularly useful in the manufacture of articles which are toroidal in shape. It may likewise be used for producing articles which are in the form of tablets such as pharmaceutical pills, or in the form of spherical shapes such as in the case of balls for ball point pens. The apparatus according to the present invention will further be seen to have particular and exceptional merit with respect to the production of cutting tool inserts from cemented carbides,for example, tungsten'carbide.

It is particularly important in the production of ferrite cores that the accuracy of the thickness or height dimension be held to within lOths of thousandths of an inch. It is of equal importance that the cores all have a uniform density which gives rise to the requirement that the till, that is the amount of powder in each die cavity ofthe compacted press, be maintained within very close limits. The resultant density of all the cores must be the same and the compressing of the powdered material must be exact and constant. If the dimensional and density factors are not held within close tolerances, the read-out level from the cores in a memory stack would not be substantially constant fromcore to core and, of course, the stack could not serve its basic purpose. To realize the dimensional accuracy just referred to, it is necessary that the press, particularly its ram operating mechanism, be capable of making and holding accurate adjustments in some cases within 50 millionths of an inch.

The present invention is of particular value when .incorporated in a powder compacting press of the general type shown and described in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,561,054 for Powder Compacting Press issued on Feb. 9, 1971 and in US. Pat. No. 3,574,892 for Powder Compacting Press" issued on Apr. 13, 1971, both of which patents are of common ownership herewith. In those patents there are shown and described the basic elements of a powder compacting press in which the ram is operated upwardly from a position below the die plate. The ram is consecutively operated as best shown in FIGS..2, 3 and 6 of US. Pat No. 3,561,054 through successive fill, press and eject operation. Inthe fill operation, the lower punches are advanced a predetermined distance into their respective cavities in the die. A cam controlled positioner assembly is then arcuately positioned in engagement with the upper surface of the die plate to provide a predetermined and uniform amount of powder to each of the different die cavities. The plate which supports the positioner assembly is then arcuately swept away across the upper surface of the die plate, while an anvil is clamped in its place. The press operation is then carried out with the punches being advanced upward into the die cavities to provide a suitable force of compression to the parts being formed. In a final eject operation, the assembly is repositioned over the cavities for removing the compacted parts. The removing device may employ a suction force to remove the finished parts away from the cavity for inspection and storage. The press is then ready to be cycled again through the successive fill, press and eject operations.

It has been found that important advantages arise from modifying presses of the above referred to type to further incorporate an upper arm carrying a tool set complementary to that carried by the lower ram. The upper ramis used to provide a press stroke downwardly by the anvil against the upper surface of the die plate and by the downward extending punches into the cavities at the, same time the lower punch stroke is being provided. Otherwise stated, the anvil applied against the upper surface of the die plate has been replaced by a particular actuating mechanism for the upper ram and the upper punches so that the compacting forces are applied at the same time from two directions. The advantages arising from this arrangement are both im- I portant and several in number. These will be explained more in detail in connection with the drawings and the following specification.

The new and improved type of upper ram and punch actuating mechanism is important in the combined type press just referred to for several reasons. The stroke of the upperpunches is reliably controllable within very close dimensions through a unique, eccentric adjustment device which is mounted on the head in a cooperative arrangement with the toggle leveroperating parts. The combination of the upper and lower punching together with the type of arcuately positioned assembly used during the fill and eject operations, makes it possible to fabricate parts of types not heretofore manufacturable from a press operation. For example, carbide type tool inserts with sharp cutting edges are readily available from pressesincorporating the present invention with resultant elimination of the grinding steps previously required in their manufacture.

In the preferred form of the embodiments, both upper and lower rams are cam operated for simultaneous or closely timed movement to provide compressive forces against the powdered material in each die cavity. The machine is operated in a fully automatic manner to discharge the finished parts into separate containers. The parts are usually formed in a multiple cavity die having 20, 30 or even more cavities of the through-hole type. The die cavities are automatically and accurately filled with powder from the positioner assembly, with the finished pressed parts automatically removed from the die, discharged and delivered into part containers as described in full detail in the aforementioned U.S. Patents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The presentinvention thus relates to a mechanical type of actuating mechanism of the toggle type which is fully adjustable to control the stroke and the extent of travel of a punch carrying ram through successive operations. The sequence of operation of the entire press and of its .two rams is through fill, simultaneous upper and lower punching, and finally ejection of the finished part. The improved adjustment mechanism is operable in conjunction with the toggle operating mechanism and makes it possible to control the upper ram stroke with an accuracy sufficient to provide precise control over the size and the density of the compressed parts being made. Additionally, the arrangement of anvil, upper punch, and lower punch and their relative sizing with respect to the die cavity cross sectional area makes it possible to provide combined doublepunching and anvil pressing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying specification and with refer- FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a press, partly in section, to show the basic parts of the press actuating mechanism and with certain parts broken away, particularly at the base of the press;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the powder compacting press with side cover removed to show the basic parts of the press actuating mechanism;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are simplified schematic drawings used to illustrate the mode of operation of the press actuating mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a partial longitudinal sectional view with parts broken away to illustrate the lever and cam parts of the press actuating mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the details of the eccentric adjustment means for the upper ram actuating mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view along the line 7-7 of FIG. 2 to illustrate the levers forming a portion of the press actuating mechanism and to show the pneumatic biasing cylinder used therewith;

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the tooling for a press of the upper anvil-lower punch operating yp FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view ofthe tooling for a press of the upper punch-lower punch type; and

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of the tooling for a press according to the present invention in which there is included a combination anvil and upper punchlower punch operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 shows the basic parts of the powder compacting press in which the present invention is incorporated. Included in the press are a base, indicated generally by the numeral 20, a frame 22 and a vertically movable ram 24. The base of the press includes a press bed 26 on which is positioned a single or multiple cavity die plate 28. The lower portion of the base 20 includes a housing 29 and four lower support members 30, of which only a pair are shown. The press frame 22 is mounted on the press base 20 at the rear by an arched support 32. Forwardly of the support 32 is a pair of vertical press columns 34 and 36. The press frame 22 is securely mounted on the base 26 by the columns 34 and 36. The column 34 is suitably threaded at both ends to receive a pair of upper lock nuts 34a and a pair of lower lock nuts 34b. The column 36 is similarly threaded and has at its upper end a pair of lock nuts 36a and at its lower end a pair of lock nuts 36 b.

The frame 22 of the press includes a vertical support and guideway for the ram 24. A portion of the press is shown in section to best illustrate the manner in which the toggle actuating mechanism and its several associated levers are related to and operate the ram 24. It will be understood that the drawing of FIG. 1 shows ram 24 in its downwardly actuated position. Included in the press frame 22 is its housing 42. At the'upper end of the frame 22 is the height adjustment means used to control upper punch entry into the lower die. The adjusting means is indicated generally by the numeral 44. The adjusting means 44, which is of the eccentric type, will be shown in complete detail in FIG. 6 hereinafter. The basic operating'parts include an eccentric cylindrical roller 46 which is rotatably mounted at the upper end of the press frame 22 by screws 48 and 50 at its left and right-hand ends, respectively, and keyed on the left-hand end. The means for selectively rotating the eccentric roller 46 is provided by a worm 52, the end of which is shown extending from the forward surface of the frame 22. The worm 52 terminates in a rotatable knurled control knob 53 to permit operator adjust ment. The eccentric roller 46 has attached to its lefthand end a pinion gear 54. The pinion gear 54 has its teeth engageable in driven relationship with the teeth of the worm 52 to allow for selective rotation of the eccentric roller 46 and hence to permit extremely close adjustment of the length of the vertical stroke of the ram 24. A graduated indicator scale 55 may be mounted by screws 55a and 5512 at the left-hand end of the pinion gear 54 to provide a visual read-out of the height adjustment previously made.

The several associated levers and links are shown in FIG. 2 in the raised ram position in phantom line and in the lowered ram position in solid line. The actuating mechanism includes a lower link 56 which is attached to the upper portion 58 of the ram 24, which will be seen to be slidably movable upwardly and downwardly in a vertical direction within the limits provided by a guideway 60 mounted on the front surface of the press frame 22. The lower end of link 56 is journalled about a bearing shaft 59 laterally extending across the upper portion 58 of the ram. The upper end of the link 56 is pivotably mounted about a transversely extending bearing shaft 62. The bearing shaft 62 in turn is mounted at the intermediate elbow portion of a bent upper lever or rocker arm 92. The upper arm 66 of the rocker arm 92 is rotatably mounted on the eccentric roller 46 included in the eccentric adjusting means 44. It will now be apparent that the degree of downward movement of the ram 24 is controlled according to the height of the eccentric adjustment preset by the adjustment means 44.

FIG. 2 shows stillfurther details of the mechanical press elements and also includes a simplified showing of the essential operating parts of the upper and lower tool sets used in a press operation. In the interest of brevity, the die plate 28 is indicatedas having an upper set 72 of three aligned punches 74, each having an op poseddie cavity 70, one of which is shown in its full length. The upper tool set 72 is shown in dash line configuration in its raised position and in solid line in its lowered position during a press operation. The upper punches 74 are shown extending downwardly, while a like number of lower-punches 76 are mounted in a lower tool set 78 and used for applying upward compacting forces to the powdered metal parts. The upper end of the upper punch holder 75 is adapted to be received in a central bore 77 formed in the lower end of the ram 24. A lateral lock screw 79 is used to provide a simple means of holding the upper tool set 72 to the upper ram 24.

A positioner assembly 81 is shown in part inthe location at which .it is mounted at the left side of the die plate 28. The positioner assembly 81 is shown and described in complete detail in US. Pat. No. 3,561,056, which patent is of common ownership with this application. Particular reference is made to that patent for the powder feeder used to fill the respective die cavities with powder material before the press operation and vacuum pickup to remove the finished compactedparts from the die cavities after the press operation. The operation of the lower tool set 78 and of its punches 76, as well as the operation of the positioner assembly, are cam controlled and cyclically operated in the'manner set forth in full detail in-the aforesaid US. Pat. Nos. 3,561,054 and 3,574,892.

FIG. 2 further shows the general configuration of the arched press support 32, which includes a vertically upstanding portion 33 to which is attached the guideway 60 to provide forvertical sliding movement of the ram 24. The link 56 is shown in solid line in its lowermost actuated. press position. Link 56 is also shown in phan tom line in its elevated position prior to actuation.

FIG. 2 additionally shows the remainder of the toggle actuating mechanism which is cooperable with the link 56 and the upper lever or rocker arm 92 to provide for the rapid upward and downward movement of the ram 24. FIG. 2 shows the pivotal mounting of the link 56 in relation to the actuating lever 80, which lever is cyclically driven and rotated about an intermediate portion which is journalled on a stub shaft 82 to provide for the downward movement of the ram 24. The lever 80 further includes a cam follower roller 84 rotatably mounted at its lower end portion. An upper end portion 86 of the lever 80 is in abutment with the lower and leftwardly extending arm 90 of the rocker arm 92. The rightwardly upstanding arm 66 of the rocker arm 92 is shown journalled about the eccentric roller 44. As previously shown in FIG. 1, the link 56 is pivotably connected at the junction of the arms 90 and 66 of the L- shaped rocker arm 92 and has its lower end, as has already been described in connection with FIG. 1, journalled about the bearing shaft 59 coupled to the upper end of the ram 24. It should be noted that the exact mode of operation of the mechanism now being described in connection with FIG. 2 will be shown in schematic form in FIGS. 3 and 4 hereinafter in such manner as to simplify and clarify the upper and lower ram positions.

FIG. 2 further shows the biasing means 96 which is coupled to the lever 90 of the rocker arm 92 for providing a force tending to maintain the rocker arm 92 in a counterclockwise direction and thus to hold the rocker arm 92, the attached link 56 and the ram 24 above the die plate 28 preparatory to press operation. The biasing means 96 is embodied as a fluid cylinder 98 having a differentially movable piston 100 mounted therein. The piston 100 has fixed to it a circumferentially extending seal 102 and a connecting rod 104 which terminates at its right-hand end in a hooked end member 106. The hooked end member 106 has its end 108 in pivotal holding engagement with a stud 109 extending from the lower arm 90 of the rocker arm 92. The left-hand arm 90 of the rocker arm 92 further has attached to it a cam roller 110 engageable with the upper end portion 86 of the lever 80. FIG. 2 also shows the manner in which the lever 80 is actuated by a cam drive mechanism in appropriate timed relationship with the mechanism which provides the upward movement of the lower tool set 78 so that the opposed punches 74 and 76 operate in unison to compact the powder material in the die cavities in accordance with the mode of operation and the teachings of the present invention. The cam follower roller 84 is operated by one of a plurality of cams 114 mounted on a common main camshaft 112 which is also used to operate the lower tool set 78. Reference again is made to the earlier mentioned US. Pat. No. 3,561,054 for a showing of the mechanism whereby the lower tool set is advanced in its press operation to move the several punches 74 upwardly into the several die cavities with which they are aligned.

It will be understood that in an alternate embodiment of this invention a toggle actuating mechanism like that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be duplicated to provide an upward press operation of the lower punches 76.

With further reference to the FIG. 2 drawing, the mechanism in the phantom line configuration is shown with the fluid cylinder 96 providing a leftward force, tending to rotate the rocker arm 92 counterclockwise about its mounting on the eccentric roller 46 thereby to hold link 56 and the associated ram 24 upwardly prior to the initiation of the press operation. The press operation is then initated by the clockwise rotation of the main operating shaft 112 and of the cam 114 fixed thereto which rocks the lever clockwise about its pivotal mounting on shaft 82. The upper end 86 of the lever 80 applies a force against the roller at the left-hand end of the rocker arm 92 which rotates it counterclockwise about its journal mounting on the eccentric roller 46 in such manner as to drive the link 56 downwardly and to thus force the upper punch ram 24 and the punches 74 into the opposed die cavities 7 0.

FIG. 2 further illustrates the manner in which the upper press housing encloses the basic operating mechanism for the press just described. A sheet metal housing is shown which forms the top and front portion of the enclosure for the operating mechanism for the upper ram 24. The die plate 28 is fixed to the diebed 22 by fastening screws 122. Each screw 112 is inserted into a counterbored hole 124 and threaded into the lower casting. It will be understood that the detail of all of the several die cavities 70 formed in the die plate 28 are not shown in the interest of brevity.

The drawings of FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the two extrerne operating positions of the toggle actuating mechanism usedto control the stroke of the ram 24. It will be understood that the ram 24 itself and the downwardly extending punches 74 are illustrated in a simplified schematic form. FIG. 3 shows the biasing means, namely the fluid or hydraulic cylinder 96, which applies a force leftwardly, tending to maintain the rocker arm 92 in'its extreme counterclockwise position. Control over the actuation of the rocker arm 92 and hence over the downward movement of the upper ram 24 and its associated punches 74 is maintained through the actuating lever 80 which is pivotably operated on a portion of the press frame by the mounting stub shaft 82. The lever 80 is operated according to the timed rotation of the cam 114 and the abutment of the control lobe of the cam'1l4 against the cam roller 84 mounted at the lower end of the actuating lever 80. In the FIG. 3 position indicated, the several punches 74 are maintained above the surface of the die plate 28 in such manner as to permit the swiveling operation of the positioner assembly 81, FIG. 2, across the upper surface of the die plate 28 to fill the several die cavities 70 from its pow der feeder 81a preparatory to the upward movement of the lower punches 76 and the downward accompanying movement of the upper punches 74. It will be understood that the downward movement of the upper ram 24 may be utilized to provide a combined anvil and upper punch effect with respect to the several cavities 70 in the die plate'28 in a manner which will be further described and clarified in connection with FIG. hereinafter.

Now with reference to the FIG. 4 drawing, the main operating camshaft 112 has been rotated to a degree to engage the high portion of its cam lobe 114 with the roller 84 thereby to tilt the lever 80 about its pivot point at shaft 82 to provide a force against the roller 110 on the lower arm of the rocker arm 92. This swings the'entire rocker arm 92 counterclockwise about its upper pivot point and permits the rapid downward movement of the upper ram 24 and results in the vertical alignment of the connecting link 56 to provide the forceful downward punching operation of the upper punches 74. It will be understood that the rocking motion of the lever 80 is applied in opposition to the constantly applied counter force from the biasing fluid cylinder 96. It will be appreciated that alternate forms such as biasing springs may be used to provide the biasing force.

FIG. 5 illustrates in a somewhat more complete manner the elements which operate the actuating lever 80 about its pivotal mounting on the shaft 82. It will be seen that the bearing surface of shaft 82 permits a ready pivotal movement of the lever 80. The lever 80 further, as has already been described, includes the roller 84 mounted at its lower end portion and engageable with the surface of the operating cam 114. The pivotal mounting for the roller 84 is provided by a bearing structure 115 including a plurality of ball bearings 116, an inner race 118 and outer race 120. The inner race 118 is fastened to the lower end of the lever 80 and held in spaced relationship through a spacer washer 122. The washer 122 and bearing structure 115 are fixed to the lower end of the lever 80 through a threaded fastener member 124 and a lock nut 126. Accordingly, the cam follower roller 84 is held in a leftward offset direction, with its periphery engaged in alignment with the periphery of the operating lobe of the cam 114.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the eccentric adjusting means 44 having the eccentric cylindrical roller 46 engageable with the journal opening formed through the upper arm 66 of the rocker arm 92. As was already described in connection with the FIG. 1 showing of the present invention, the entire eccentric roller 46 is rotatable clockwise or counterclockwise about the axis of its end, stubshafts 45 supporting it in the frame by means of its pinion 54 having its teeth in engagement with a worm 52. The worm 52 extends with respect to FIG. 1 forwardly through the housing to permit rotative adjustment by the operator. This causes the axis of the eccentric operating cylindrical surface of the roller 46 to be displaced vertically to an infinitely variable degree to alter the height of the ram 24, or otherwise stated, to adjust the position of the press ram 24 and upper punches 74 with respect to the die plate 28. As previously indicated, an indicator, not shown, is attached to the left-hand end of the eccentric adjusting means 44 in such manner as to provide a precision read-out from the scale 55 of the ram adjustment which has been preset in accordance with the positioning of the worm 52.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 2, which view is of particular importance in illustrating the manner in which the biasing means, namely the fluid cylinder 96, is coupled through its connecting rod 104 to maintain the rocker arm 92 and hence the link 56 and the upper ram 24 in the normal upward position preparatory to press operation. For

this purpose, it will be seen that the connecting rod 104 has a pivotal U-shaped joint 200 pinned to its righthand end through a pin 202 in such a manner as to provide the bifurcated and hooked end portion 108 previously illustrated in part in FIG. 2. A suitable mounting device isprovided to allow a pivotal movement of the cylinder 96 within a housing 204. This mounting device includes a pair of opposed studs 206, 208 which extend into openings formed in the enlarged right-hand end plate 97 of the cylinder 96. The hooked end portion 108 is hooked over the pin 109, which pin extends laterally from both sides of the lower arm of the rocker arm 92. A fastener screw 99 is shown holding the arm in place. The upper end 36 of the actuating lever 84 is shown in engagement with the cam roller 110 in such a manner as to provide a rocking motion of the rocker arm 92. At the same time, as is better shown in FIGS. 2 and 4., the link 56 is driven downwardly to provide for a downward press stroke of the upper end 24.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing an example of compacting member arrangement which may be operated by the press of the present invention. A lower punch 76 is advanced upwardly into a die bushing 210 mounted in a die cavity of the die plate 28. An anvil 212 is clamped down by a hold-down stud 214 mounted on the end of the upper ram to maintain its lower surface flat against the upper surface of die plate 28 during the upper movement of the lower punch 76.

A core rod 216 is mounted extending from the lower punch 76 to provide a central opening in the compacted part 218 which is being produced.

FIG. 9 illustrates a different arrangement of tool set and die in which both upper and lower punch pressing is being performed in the die cavity. Included in the upper tool set is a punch holder assembly which includes the downwardly extending punch 220 seated in a punch holder 222. The holder 222 is securely tuating ram mechanism such as that shown hereinbefore in FIGS. 1-7 in the drawings.

FIG. 10 is a showing of a different combination with lower punch and combined upper anvil and upper punch tooling. It will be seen in the FIG. 10 arrangement that the lower tool set, like that of FIGS. 8 and 9, includes the lower punch 76 and its centrally located core rod 216, which is used to'provide a central aperture in the part 218. The radius of the part 218 being formed is somewhat larger than that of the upper punch 220. The upper punch 220 further has a contoured end piece 220a at its lower end in order to provide a part 218 with the cross-sectional configuration shown. The combination anvil-punch effect is provided by an anvil plate 230 through which the upper punch 220 extends. There is thus a downward force in a compacting direction exerted by the punch 220, with an accompanying anvil-type force exerted at the periphery of the part 218. This permits the formation of articles such as carbide tool inserts with relatively sharp edges, which is highly desirable since grinding of the edges is substantially reduced or eliminated. The'edges of the part 218 are rendered sharp by the wiping action provided by the positioner assembly 81 during its sweeping motion across the part 218 to withdraw it under vacuum or otherwise eject it from the die cavity. It will be understood that the anvil 230 and upper punch 220 may be formed as one unit and mounted on the end of the upper ram 24, or, alternately, the anvil 230, and the anvil 212 of FIG. 8, may be incorporated as part of the positioner assembly 81. In the latter arrangement, the positioner assembly 81 is arcuately swept across the die plate 28 in the fill, press, and eject operations. While in the press position, the upper punch 220 and ram 24 exert a downward force on the anvil 230 and on the power in the cavity at the same time.

It will thus be seen that the double puncharrangement of the present invention has particular advantage for forming carbide cutting tool inserts when the powdered material used, for example carbide particles which have been mixed with a cobalt binder, is pressed in the compacting press into cutting tool forms.

The advantages derived from the mode of construction of the actuating mechanism are substantial with respect to the large magnitude forces available from the combination of lever, rocker arm and link which serve to drive the press ram in its downward stroke. It will be understood that a like actuating mechanism may be employed to drive the lower punches in the opposing upward stroke.

What is claimed is:

1. A powder compacting press comprising:

a frame;

means on said frame for supporting a die plate having at least one cavity therein;

an upper ram slidably disposed in said frame above said die plate;

alower ram slidably disposed in said frame below said die plate;

a rocker arm having an end pivotably mounted on said frame above said upper arm;

a link element having an end pivotably affixed to said ram and another end pivotably connected to the other end of said rocker arm;

a laterally extending arm integral with said rocker arm;

a lever pivotally mounted on said frame and having an end engaging the end of said'arm;

a rotatable cam engageable with the other end of said lever; and

biasing means for continuously engaging the ends of said lever respectively with the end of said arm and with said cam;

whereby rotation of said cam causes pivoting of said lever for laterally displacing said arm from a position wherein said rocker arm and said link are pivotally angularly disposed to a position wherein they are substantially aligned for reciprocating said upper ram relative to said die plate; means for reciprocating said lower ram in timed relationships with said upper ram; and powder compacting members actuated by said upper and lower rams for compacting powder material disposed in said cavity. 2. The press of claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises a single acting fluid cylinder having a piston rod with the end thereof pivotally attached to said arm.

3. The press of claim 1 wherein the powder compacting member actuated by the lower ram is a punch member engaged in said cavity from below said die plate and reciprocable by said lower ram.

4. The press of claim 3 wherein the powder compacting member actuated by the upper ram is an anvil positionable over said die cavity and clamped down by said 'upper ram.

5. The press of claim 3 wherein the powder compacting member actuated by the upper ram is a punch member mounted on said ram and engageable in said cavity.

6. The press of claim 3 wherein the powder compacting member actuated by the upper ram comprises-an anvil portion and a punch portion, said anvil portion being clamped down over said cavity by said ram and said punch portion being engageable into said cavity.

7. The press of claim 3 further comprising means for adjusting the position of said upper ram above said die plate.

8. The press of claim 7 wherein said adjusting means comprises an eccentric cylindrical member for pivotally mounting the end of said rocker arm on said frame.

9. The press of claim 8 further comprising a gear mounted on one end of said eccentric member and a worm meshing with said gear such that rotation of said worm controllably rotates said eccentric member for adjusting the position of said upper ram above said die plate.

- PE -l27-A V r N 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,826, 599 Dated July 30, 1974' Inventorm) "Raymond P. Desantie & Georges D. DeTroyor It is certified that error appears in the aboveidentified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

IN HE TITLE:

7 Cancel "AND PROCESS".

IN THE SPECIFICATION:

Column 6, lines 59-60, change "die bed 22" to --die bed.26

IColumn 6, line 60, after escrew" delete the numeral "ll2" and insert therein numeral --l22--.

Column 8, line 13, delete the word "operating".

Column 9, line 45, change the word "power to --powder-':-.

IN THE CIQLAIMS:

Claim 1, column l0, line 6, change the word "arm" to Q --ram-.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner of Patents F ORM PO-IOSO (10-69) USCOMM-DC ooa'io-Pce Q. I.I.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: "I, O-lSl-SJ, 

1. A powder compacting press comprising: a frame; means on said frame for supporting a die plate having at least one cavity therein; an upper ram slidably disposed in said frame above said die plate; a lower ram slidably disposed in said frame below said die plate; a rocker arm having an end pivotably mounted on said frame above said upper arm; a link element having an end pivotably affixed to said ram and another end pivotably connected to the other end of said rocker arm; a laterally extending arm integral with said rocker arm; a lever pivotally mounted on said frame and having an end engaging the end of said arm; a rotatable cam engageable with the other end of said lever; and biasing means for continuously engaging the ends of said lever respectively with the end of said arm and with said cam; whereby rotation of said cam causes pivoting of said lever for laterally displacing said arm from a position wherein said rocker arm and said link are pivotally angularly disposed to a position wherein they are substantially aligned for reciprocating said upper ram relative to said die plate; means for reciprocating said lower ram in timed relationships with said upper ram; and powder compacting members actuated by said upper and lower rams for compacting powder material disposed in said cavity.
 2. The press of claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises a single acting fluid cylinder having a piston rod with the end thereof pivotally attached to said arm.
 3. The press of claim 1 wherein the powder compacting member actuated by the lower ram is a punch member engaged in said cavity from below said die plate and reciprocable by said lower ram.
 4. The press of claim 3 wherein the powder compacting member actuated by the upper ram is an anvil positionable over said die cavity and clamped down by said upper ram.
 5. The press of claim 3 wherein the powder compacting member actuated by the upper ram is a punch member mounted on said ram and engageable in said cavity.
 6. The press of claim 3 wherein the powder compacting member actuated by the upper ram comprises an anvil portion and a punch portion, said anvil portion being clamped down over said cavity by said ram and said punch portion being engageable into said cavity.
 7. The press of claim 3 further comprising means for adjusting the position of said upper ram above said die plate.
 8. The press of claim 7 wherein said adjusting means comprises an eccentric cylindrical member for pivotally mounting the end of said rocker arm on said frame.
 9. The press of claim 8 further comprising a gear mounted on one end of said eccentric member and a worm meshing with said gear such that rotation of said worm controllably rotates said eccentric member for adjusting the position of said upper ram above said die plate. 